Posted : July 22, 1940 at Bombay

Probable Route : Bombay to Karachi by India domestic airlines (TATA); BOAC Horseshoe route from Karachi to Bangkok; BOAC from Bangkok to Hong Kong; Pan Am FAM 14 to San Francisco; USA domestic airlines to Providence, RI.

Notes : Rare use of 25 Rupee King George V definitive, the highest face value stamp issued by India at this time. In 1941 the Rupee was $.30 US.The total franking of 51 Rupees 8 1/2 annas was the equivalent of $15.45 US. The packaged contained Pearls.

Rate : 51 Rupees 8 1/2 annas

Posted : July 23, 1940

Route : BOAC Horseshoe route to Bangkok, probably Flight NE5; Bangkok to Hong Kong by BOAC Feeder Service; FAM 14 to San Francisco; USA domestic airlines to New York; FAM 18 to Lisbon; BOAC to England; domestic transport to Ireland.

Notes : Scarce use of Postal Stationary card uprated for expensive Pacific Clipper airmail service by two-ocean route. The message on the card is interesting - "....the papers advise a new route to G.B. via USA and Pacific so I am sending off this pc and will you please let me know how long it takes as compared with the S. African route...." The sender wanted to know if it was worth the extra expense as opposed to the Horseshoe route via Durban and ship to England.

Rate : 1 Rupee 1 Anna 12 Pies

Posted : Jan 1, 1941 at Bombay

Route : Bombay to Karachi by India domestic airlines -TATA; BOAC Horseshoe route to Rangoon; CNAC to Hong Kong; FAM 14 Philippine Clipper departed Hong Kong Feb 1, arriving San Francisco Feb 7; USA domestic airlines to Denver, CO. Backstamped Hong Kong Jan 28 and Denver Feb 8.

Notes : Trans-pacific cover with rare double strike of the Circular AV2 marking applied at Hong Kong. Censored in India and Hong Kong.

Rate : 5 Rupees 3 annas 6 pies

Posted : July 7, 1941 at Calcutta

Route : BOAC Horseshoe route to either Singapore or Sydney; FAM 14 from Singapore or FAM 19 from Auckland; USA domestic airlines to New York; FAM 18 to Lisbon; European transport by rail and/or air to Switzerland. Backstamped Semione Aug 13, 1941.

Notes : Switzerland is an uncommon destination for two-ocean airmail from India. This cover travelled nearly around the world. It has the manuscript endorsement - Via Pacific - New York. Since there are no Singapore or Hong Kong markings, it is possible the cover went all the way to Sydney by BOAC, and from there to Auckland, and then by FAM 19 to the USA. It is marked in manuscript T 22 c indicating Postage Due, but no additional markings.

Rate : 2 Rupees 11 Annas 6 Pies - marked T 22 c Postage Due

Posted : Oct 3, 1941 at Calcutta

Route : BOAC Horseshoe route to Singapore; FAM 14 from Singapore to San Francisco; USA domestic airlines to New York; FAM 18 to Lisbon; BOAC to England.

Notes : Two-ocean airmail cover has the handstamp endorsement - INDIA-CHUNGKING-England. There is the additional handstamp - TO BE FORWARDED BY AIR FROM SINGAPORE....which was applied at Singapore. This marking was used to indicate a change in air service from one carrier to another.

Rate : 3 Rupees 7 1/2 annas

Posted : Nov 24, 1941 at Nagpur

Route : TATA - India Internal Airlines to either Karachi or Calcutta; BOAC Horseshoe route to either Singapore or Sydney; FAM 14 from Singapore or FAM 19 from Auckland; USA domestic airlines to New York; FAM 18 to Lisbon; BOAC to England.

Notes : This two-ocean cover has the manuscript endorsement - England Via Auckland, Trans Pacific / North Atlantic route. However, with the absence of any route markings, it is difficult to determine the exact route. We know the BOAC Horseshoe route went right through Singapore on it's way to Sydney. And because of the date of posting, this cover would have probably been carried on the last Clipper out of Singapore on Nov 30. We also know that if it went to all the way to Sydney, it would not have arrived in time to be on the last Clipper out of Auckland.

Rate : 3 Rupees